Denmark is a chilly country of wide pastures and many farms, where hearty meat dishes are greatly appreciated.
One classic country dish is the Danish version of beef stew — stuvet oksekod or, translated literally, stewed beef meat.
It is a simple and hearty combination of beef, onions and a dash of vinegar, cooked slowly in a wide pot or skillet and topped with fluffy parsley dumplings.
Coming in from the cold North Sea air (or the cold Ohio River air) to a simmering pot of stuvet oksekod is one of the pleasures of wintertime.
This recipe comes from “Wonderful, Wonderful Danish Cooking” by Ingeborg Dahl Jensen.
The book was published in 1965, and Jensen lists the recipe as an “old” recipe for beef stew.
Dansk Stuvet Oksekod (Danish Stewed Beef with Dumplings)
Source: “Wonderful, Wonderful Danish Cooking” by Ingeborg Dahl Jensen, 1965 Serves: 6
INGREDIENTS
3 tablespoons butter
2 onions, chopped
1 cup flour
2 cups beef broth or stock
2½ pounds top or bottom round steak, cut in small squares
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon white pepper
¾ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon minced parsley
¼ teaspoon marjoram
1 pinch pepper
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons ice water
DIRECTIONS
1 Melt butter, add onions and brown for about 10 minutes over low heat. Add 3 tablespoons of the flour, stirring until smooth. Slowly add the broth or stock, stirring until the mixture comes to the boiling point.
2 Place the meat in a heavy skillet and sprinkle with the vinegar. Add the prepared sauce, 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon of pepper and mix well. Cover and cook over low heat for 2 hours.
3 Sift the baking powder, remaining flour and ½ teaspoon salt in a bowl. Add parsley, marjoram and pepper and mix well.
4 Cut in the butter, add the ice water and toss lightly until a ball of dough is formed. Shape into small balls and drop into the kettle of stew, replace the lid and continue to cook over low heat for 35 minutes more.
5 Arrange the meat on a platter with the dumplings around it. Pour the liquid from the skillet over all and serve.